Page:Popular Tales and Romances of the Northern Nations (Volume 2).djvu/42

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30
The Spectre Barber.

pher, and promised to present him with a wax candle as large as a hop-pole, if he would grant him, in a second wife, the happiness he had hoped, in vain, to find with the first.

Scarcely had he seen the fair Mela, when hedreamt that St. Christopher looked into his bed-room window on the second floor, and reminded him of his promise. This appeared to the lusty widower, an indication from his patron saint, that great happiness would be his lot, and he resolved immediately to try his fortune.

Early the next morning he commanded a large quantity of well-bleached wax; he then made himself as smart as possible, and sallied forth on his marriage business. He had no taste for music, and was ignorant of all the secret symbols and expressions of love; but his brewery was extensive; he had, besides, a large capital lent out at interest; a ship in the Weser, and a farm near the town, With such recommendations, he might have looked for success, even without the help of St. Christopher, especially with a maiden who had no marriage portion.